The Student News Site of The Webb Schools

Webb Canyon Chronicle
The Student News Site of The Webb Schools

Webb Canyon Chronicle
The Student News Site of The Webb Schools

Webb Canyon Chronicle
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21 questions with Xander Kong

Narineh Madikians and Sebastian Hoffmann
December 4, 2021
21 questions with Xander Kong (’22)
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Kenny Clay (‘25) and Leia Albornoz (‘25) blast the speakers in the library, bringing good vibes to lunch on Friday the 13th of last week. Anyone walking by could hear the best tunes coming from the library that drew in a crowd of people. Kenny and Leia do not have record players yet, so for now, they are DJing using a laptop set up. “I just want to push my music agenda,” Kenny said. “Steph [Ma (‘25)] said this is just a lame excuse to be on AUX, but I’m gonna capitalize off that.”
New DJs on deck!
Webb students and faculty pose in front of the backdrop at the Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC), themed “Meeting the Moment: Anchoring & Enriching Our Education Futures.” The conference provided impactful workshops and discussions on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). “It was a transformative experience to connect with others who share my identity and goals,” said Jayden Aleman (’26), a participant of this year’s SDLC. Students gained valuable insights and were inspired to foster positive change within their community. Photo Credit: Mr. Choi
Webb students bring SDLC insights home
Maddie Leiva (‘27) and Gavin Hamilton (‘27) dramatically pose while holding signs promoting the democratic and republican parties respectively. The two students are both expressing dismay for each other's signs, however situations such as this disagreement are encouraged at Webb. “It's important to keep people in your life that you disagree with, because it kind of affirms what you really believe in,” Saraya Chigoji (‘27) said. Moments of debate build stronger individuals who can allow political differences to coexist.
Political Diversity could advance the Webb community
From the moment young Emily Thornton (‘25) slipped into her purple helmet, pink fairy wings, and a cascade of pearl necklaces, she expressed her own definition of fashion creatively. Her bold red outfit and fearless mix of accessories reflect a personality that thrives on self-expression and imagination. "Just start being creative, do what inspires you, and it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks of your style,” Emily said. Her words reflect the fearless approach she takes in both design and life.
Student in Focus: Emily Thornton, fashion designer
Student government meets in the Fawcett library to discuss the budget and decorations for the Winter Formal. Since Homecoming at the start of November, members of the student government have been diligently planning another exciting event, which will take place at Webb. “The Winter Formal Committee and I all hope for a fun event that will uplift community spirit during a time of stress and hard work,” said Albert Luo (‘27), sophomore vice president . Student leaders finalize plans including the budget, decorations, and assignment of roles, hoping for community engagement and a time where everyone can de-stress and have fun.
StuGov serves the community yet again: Webb’s Winter Formal
From making your morning latte to producing a hit song, Judcody Limon is a man of many talents. When not working at Webb, you can find him experimenting with beats and writing lyrics. "I'm feeling confident enough about [making music] to where I'm pushing out my own stuff as opposed to holding off until I feel good enough about it,” said Judcody Limon.
Spotlight: Judcody Limon
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Martin Beseth (‘27) angrily educates Ethan Xi (‘27) about over-relying on paper cups as they produce unnecessary waste. Webb started to advocate for the community to decrease the number of paper cups used. “I think [Webb is] taking a huge step towards stopping the deforestation of trees ...and helping the environment,” Martin Beseth (‘27) said. The attention brought to the community prompts new opinions among students on using fewer paper cups.
Webb’s encourages on reducing paper cups in the dining hall
Jonathan Lee ('27) points at Sarah Lantz, Dean of Students, and Yeslea Tadeo, Dean of Residential life, standing in front of the Deans' Building in fear as, highlighting the persistent stigma surrounding the space. "It doesn’t matter who she’s (Ms. Lopez) there for —when Ms. Lopez walks in, the whole room goes silent, and everyone gets tense," Jonathan Lee ('27) said. This reaction reflects how the Deans' Building's intimidating reputation often impacts students, even in situations where no disciplinary action is involved.
Breaking the barrier: making the Deans' Building more approachable
On December 18, 2024, at the Webb Schools’ gym, Dr. Theresa Smith, Head of Schools, struck a thoughtful pose, embodying curiosity and reflection. She pondered the transformative potential of artificial intelligence. "How is AI going to transform education and transform society at large?" Dr. Smith asked. She wishes to make Webb a safe place for students to innovate and prepare for the technological advancements of society.
Dr. Theresa Smith navigates AI incorporation at Webb
Tracy Ren (‘28) stands on the outdoor courts, ready to practice for the girls’ JV team. Her excitement to improve is infectious, filling the court with a buzz of eagerness. Although the team warms up outside, in the chilly winter air, the excitement warms the team up. "Having energy on the court makes me play better” says Mandana Mojaverian (‘26). With the readiness for improvement coursing through the girl's veins, there's no secret this season will be a great one.
Girls’ basketball has come with a unique surprise this winter season
Holiday decorations relieve stress around Webb campus
The sunlight gleams on the edges of the front steps of the Webb campus steps, defining the students' goals to think, act, lead, and serve. Although the front steps remind us of our principles to be trendsetters, another step needs to be taken for a Webb student to become a true leader. “For me, leadership is really a very basic principle of how one leads their own life” said Sarah Lantz, Dean of Students. But how can students lead their life confidently and serve the community as student leaders?
What does it mean to be a student leader?
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Claire Yu (‘26), searching Jenn Tran on the internet, views endless articles about Jen’s personal, social, romantic, and television life. “I had never heard of her before but seeing that she is Asian American made me interested in [the] kind of contributions she made to pop culture,” Claire said. Scrolling through the internet, Claire is amazed at the impact that Jen has on reality TV. “It was cool searching about her as it’s rare for me to see this representation on TV,” she said.
Webb students reflect on media star Jenn Tran
Sarah Lantz, Dean of Students, and Micheal Hoe, Assistant Head of School, explain procedures for the Honor Pledge Ceremony to students sitting outside the chapel. This is the first time students have had to sit outside to accommodate the larger number of students in a co-ed ceremony. “We had new signers for the Honor Pledge and escorts sit outside the chapel and watch the ceremony on TVs, which was a new addition this year,” said Scott Wishek (‘25), chair of the honor council.
Honor Pledge Ceremony shifts with one school model
Tyler Liu (‘25) and Jay Pang (‘25) model the current political climate of division in the upcoming election. “People literally beat each other up over the election,” Jay said. “It’s crazy.” The political divide in the United States is becoming increasingly tense, and many students at Webb feel it in this community as well.
Poll reveals political divisions and shifts in the Webb community
Aurora Deng (’26) is doing Saturday check-in at Stockdale Community Center with the new application REACH and its embedded NFC tag. “I like it more [now that] we don’t have to do the sign-in books because there used to be a long line,” said Jacky Qi. ”NFC tags are a lot faster.” Before NFC tags were implemented, students had to sign the physical check-in books every Saturday.
Reach affects Webb student’s daily life
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About the Contributors
Narineh Madikians
Narineh Madikians, Public Editor
Narineh Madikians (‘23) is coming back to Webb for her senior year as a completely new person. Along with her new position as the Webb Canyon Chronicle's new Public Editor, Narineh is also a head peer advisor and a member of the VWS varsity volleyball team. Even though her senior year is full of change, Narineh still loves humanities courses from past years such as Advanced Studies Creative Nonfiction. She encourages everyone at Webb to take this class as it has made a significant impact on her writing techniques. This year, she is focusing on the future while also trying to stay present at the moment, hoping to make as many lasting memories as she can before she leaves for college. After a long and busy week at school, Narineh uses her weekends to recharge. She loves to go out with her friends or stay at home and watch movies with her parents and three dogs: Jeckie, Dash, and Rex. At the end of the day, Narineh unwinds by listening to her favorite artists such as Mac Miller, Frank Ocean, and Childish Gambino. Narineh will use her new and old experiences throughout Webb, the WCC, and outside life, to make her senior year unforgettable.   Favorite Song: "Crimson and Clover" by Tommy James and The Shondells
Sebastian Hoffmann
Sebastian Hoffmann, Staff Writer
On a typical morning, Sebastian Hoffman (’23) wakes up in his dorm, Kirkhill, and reads for 20 to 30 minutes. Working at a local bookstore during the last summer, Sebastian’s favorite book is Roadside Picnic and enjoys reading science fiction that explores insightful themes on the nature of mankind. Of course, books are not his only source of entertainment; Sebastian loves watching Peaky Blinders, playing the video game Nuclear Throne, and listening to synthwave, his favorite music genre. This year, the Bay Area native is taking Advanced Studies Cold War, which is fitting considering his fascination for history. Sebastian is also always up to date on current events, especially news about the economy and the market. As a staff writer for the Webb Canyon Chronicle, Sebastian hopes to guarantee the factual accuracy of his articles, while connecting global issues to the school community and increasing their relevance among the student body.   Favorite song: "Paint It, Black" by the Rolling Stones